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bethandmanly profile (must be logged in)
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Massachusetts, USA
Join Date: 08-12-2005
post: 4244 | Second Chance - Parts 1 - 4 moved here | 10-27-2005 2:05:22 am |
| Hey all,
I figured I should probably move the first part of Second Chance to this area of the website. I will also bump up the thread with the remainder of the story for those that are interested in reading it.
Thanks to everyone for being so great with their feedback on this story. I had fun writing it; and who knows, these characters just might appear again some time early next year.
Diva Cheryl
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This story begins right before Mary finds out she is going blind. Her ex-fianc?, John Sanderson Jr. leaves his job in Chicago and returns to Walnut Grove to find out if Mary still has feelings for him.
Note 1: I used a scene or two from the show and some of the dialogue may seem familiar. It was partially taken from ?I?ll be Waving as You Drive Away.?
Note 2: This story assumes that the Edwards family never left Walnut Grove. Whether or not the Garvey family also lives in Walnut Grove at the same time as the Edwards family is irrelevant to this storyline.
Part 1
The chug-a-chug of the train numbed his mind. How long had it been since he left Chicago? It seemed like a lifetime. John Jr. hadn?t even written his parents to tell them he had left his job at The Tribune. The fast pace of city life had been exciting and exhilarating at first. But now John yearned for the slow and steady way of life in the prairie town he had called home.
John hoped his parents would understand his decision. Grace and Isaiah had been so wonderful to him since his mother?s death. He hated to disappoint them, especially considering how proud they were of him ? getting a college scholarship, landing his job at The Tribune and finally getting his own byline.
?Sleepy Eye Minnesota,? the conductor yelled. ?All off for Sleepy Eye Minnesota.?
The announcement startled John. He grabbed his briefcase and bag and exited the back of the train. Such a long time had passed since he had last seen this platform ? the day he went off to college.
The stagecoach driver took John?s bag and strapped it down with the other passengers? luggage. They were soon on their way and John spent the ride filled with anxiety.
The driver stopped the stagecoach in front of the Walnut Grove Post Office. John hesitated before he stepped off the coach and took his bag from the driver. He headed out of town towards his parents? home. As he meandered towards Grace and Isaiah?s farm, he wondered how much had changed at the Edwards? homestead. Passersby nodded to John, but he didn?t know any of them. He smiled back and gave a quick wave.
When he came to the trail leading up to the Edwards? home, he stopped. He could see the farm from the top of the hill. John saw a boy and a girl tending to the animals. Could that actually be his brother and sister? His anxiety forgotten, John ran towards the house screaming, ?Carl! Alicia! I?m home! I?m home!?
Carl and Alicia looked up to see their older brother running towards them. ?Ma! Pa! Come quick!? Alicia shouted and then ran to catch up with Carl who was standing beside John Jr.
?Alicia, what?s wrong?? Grace asked as she opened the door. Her mouth fell open when she saw her three children hugging.
Isaiah followed Grace out with his shotgun. ?Isaiah,? she said as he reached the porch. ?Our son is home. Thank God, our son has come home.?
Isaiah was too shocked and overjoyed to respond. He hobbled behind Grace to greet his oldest son.
The Edwards family enjoyed a wonderful homecoming. Dinner tasted especially good that night. John explained everything to his parents and was relieved when they supported his decision. They even offered to let him stay in his old room. Then John asked the question that had been on his mind since he boarded the train in Chicago. ?How?s Mary??
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Charles Ingalls was tired. He had been up the entire night trying to find a way to tell Mary. As he stared into the creek, he prayed once again that the Lord would work a miracle. Mary came up to her father and sat alongside him.
?You look tired Pa.?
?Don?t worry about me Mary. I?m fine. How are your eyes??
?Well, these new glasses seemed to work all right at first. But now I?m having trouble seeing again.?
A tear fell down Charles? cheek. He looked up at his daughter. Mary knew something was wrong. ?Pa what?s bothering you? You?ve been quiet ever since we got back from the doctor. My eyes, they?re going to get better, won?t they??
?You see ? it was the scarlet fever. It ? it weakened the muscles in your eyes.? Charles sniffled as he tried to hold back his tears.
?But I?m going to get better, right Pa??
?No darlin. The doctor thinks it?s going to get worse. He thinks ? he thinks ? you?re eventually going to lose your sight.?
The tears fell down Mary?s face as she stared at her father. ?I?m going to be blind. I?m going to be blind!?
Charles reached out to his daughter. She pulled away and stood up. ?No, the doctor?s wrong! He?s wrong!? Mary ran up into the pasture, leaving her father at the creek to cry alone.
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Isaiah and Grace glanced at each other when John asked about Mary. Carl and Alicia asked to be excused to go finish their chores. Grace got up and went to sit in the chair next to John. She put her hands on his shoulders and squeezed him hard.
?John,? Grace began. ?Mary has been having some trouble with her eyes lately. We all thought it was eye strain. She?s been studying so hard to become a teacher.?
?Did she get some new glasses or something??
?Yes she did but ?? Grace paused. ?John ? Mary is going blind.?
John shot out of his chair with such force that the chair toppled onto the floor. He began to pace, holding his head in his right hand.
?This could ruin everything. My plans ? No, this can?t be!?
?What are you talking about John? What plans??
John turned towards his mother. He looked at his father who was still sitting in silence at the head of the table.
?I wanted to wait until I was sure how things were going to turn out,? John explained. ?The main reason I came back to Walnut Grove was to see if Mary still had feelings for me.?
?After all this time?? Grace asked. ?Even after what happened in Chicago??
?I was a fool in Chicago. I realized that night how much I still cared for Mary. I didn?t think she could ever forgive me? so I tried to forget her. But I couldn?t. I finally decided to move home, concentrate on my poetry and see if Mary still loved me.?
?That lass sure had a thing for you,? Isaiah interrupted.
?Isaiah!? Grace admonished.
?Well she did,? Isaiah said in his defense.
?A lot has happened since then.?
?That?s true,? Isaiah admitted. ?Mary has had a swarm of beaus buzzing around her since you called off the engagement. Seth is the latest one.?
?I don?t remember a Seth,? John said.
?Seth and his father are new in town,? Grace explained. ?Mary and he are quite serious. Caroline and I were talking about it just the other day.?
?Talk, talk, talk is all you women do,? Isaiah teased.
?How serious?? John asked. ?Has Seth asked Mr. Ingalls for her hand??
?I don?t think so. I?m sure Caroline would have mentioned it.?
?Then I have to go talk to Mary tonight. Pa can I borrow the rig??
?Yup, but ya better hurry. It?ll be dark soon.?
John started for the door. ?Uh, John??
?Yes Pa??
?I hope it all works out. I always wanted to see you two git hitched.?
?Thanks Pa.? John slammed the door on his way out.
?Isaiah, you shouldn?t encourage him,? Grace said with worry in her voice.
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Suppertime at the Ingalls place was not its usual flurry of activity. It was a silent affair. The silence more pronounced by the absence of Mary who had gone to bed early. A knock at the door pierced the silence like a pin puncturing a balloon. Pa got up and opened the door. A smile came to his face when he saw the visitor. He extended his right hand and said, ?John, what a surprise. I didn?t know you were visiting your folks.?
?Hello Mr. Ingalls. It?s more than a visit. I?m home to stay.?
?Isaiah must be happy.?
?Yes, he and Grace are excited and surprised too. I hadn?t written them to tell them I was coming home.?
?Well come in John. The family has grown a little since the last time you were here, but Caroline and Laura will be happy to see you.?
?Thank you, Mr. Ingalls.? As John entered the house Laura and Ma ran over to embrace him. After a few moments of small talk, John worked up the courage to ask if Mary was home.
?She?s upstairs,? Ma said. ?She hasn?t been feeling well so she went to bed early.?
?Grace told me what the doctor said. Is there any chance he could be wrong??
?I keep praying for a miracle, but it?s in the Lord?s hands,? Pa answered.
?Mr. Ingalls, could I talk to you outside for a moment??
?Sure son.? Charles reached to get his pipe and a match from the mantle and walked outside with John Jr. to the barnyard fence. Mary, who was still awake in the loft, got out of bed and kneeled beside the window. She opened the shutters and tried to make out their faces.
?Mr. Ingalls, I know the last time we spoke it ended badly??
?Yes it did.?
?But I?m encouraged by the warm welcome I received tonight. You see, the real reason I came home was to? to see if Mary might still have feelings for me.?
?I see,? Charles responded through clenched teeth, the smoke from his pipe filling the night air.
?I know this problem with her eyes might complicate things, but it doesn?t change the fact that I love her.?
?Son, I would like to believe that. But you came to me once and asked for her hand. I happily gave it and I trusted you when you said that you loved her. Mary stayed behind while you went after your dream of becoming a writer; a dream that took you all the way to Chicago. And while you were away things changed, you changed. I took Mary to Chicago to see you and she came back hurt because you said you didn?t feel the same way anymore. How do I know that won?t happen again??
?I won?t make excuses for what I did. But I can tell you that I broke it off with the young woman I was seeing right after the ball that night. I?ve been faithful to Mary ever since. I just didn?t have the courage to come home and tell her until now.?
?Mary is a young woman now. The decision is hers to make. But I will always be her father, and if she gets hurt again I?ll be very disappointed in you.?
?I understand sir. Thank you, Mr. Ingalls.?
?It?s late. Mary is probably sleeping. Why don?t you come back tomorrow morning and talk to her.?
?I will. Thanks again Mr. Ingalls.?
Charles watched as John drove away. He wondered what Mary would say.
The shutters in the upstairs bedroom closed. Mary tried to imagine what the two men were talking about. When she heard footsteps coming up the ladder, she raced back into bed and pretended to be asleep. The last thing she needed was for Laura to pester her with questions.
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Part 2
Early the next morning Caroline heard a knock at the door. She wasn?t surprised to see John Jr. Charles had told her to expect him.
?Good morning Mrs. Ingalls. Is Mary home??
?Yes she is John. Why don?t you come in and I?ll call her.? John removed his hat and walked inside.
?Thank you.?
?Mary,? Caroline called up to the loft. ?Someone is here to see you.?
?Who is it Ma?? Mary asked, even though she knew who it was.
?John Jr. is here.?
?I?ll be right down.? Mary looked at herself in the mirror one last time.
John heard footsteps above and soon saw a set of black boots coming down the ladder. As Mary hit the bottom rung she turned to face him. She was more beautiful than he remembered. John tightened the grip on his hat and swallowed hard. ?Hello Mary.?
?Hello John,? Mary responded without a smile.
?I was hoping that I might be able to convince you to take a walk with me.?
?Would that be all right Ma??
?If you would like to.?
?Are you sure you don?t need my help with anything??
?I can manage.?
?Thanks Ma.? Mary hugged her mother and walked out the door that John had opened for her.
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Isaiah went back to the house after milking the cow. When he opened the door he looked around the kitchen. Grace was busy at the stove cooking breakfast. ?Where?s John?? he asked.
?He walked out to the Ingalls place already.?
?Hmmm.?
?Isaiah, what do you think of all this??
?Think of what??
?You know, John leaving his job in Chicago and coming all the way back home to see if Mary still loves him.?
?Well I guess it don?t hurt nothin to see if she does.?
?But what if she turns him down? You of all people know what a sensitive, tender soul John is. Do you think he would move back to Chicago??
?Don?t know. But don?t forgit, he?s a man now. We can?t think of him as a boy anymore Grace.?
?I know, it?s just hard to stop mothering him; especially now that he?s home.?
Isaiah walked over to Grace and kissed her on the cheek. ?That?s one of the reasons I chose you to help me raise them kids.?
?You chose me!? Grace said. ?As if I would ever have married the likes of you for any other reason,? Grace teased. ?Breakfast is ready. Why don?t you go wash up and I?ll get you a plate.?
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Mary and John walked along the banks of the creek. He wanted to declare his love for her, but was afraid of how she would respond. John spoke of the weather and his homecoming. When Mary asked about his job in Chicago he replied it was fine. John glimpsed Mary looking at her reflection in the creek. He wondered if she was thinking about her eyes.
?So?I came by last night, but you were sleeping.?
?I wasn?t sleeping. I know you stopped by. I watched you from the upstairs window as you talked to Pa.?
?Did?did he tell you what we talked about??
?No. But I would like to know why you?re here.?
He wasn?t used to her being forward. Mary was so shy and unsure when they were younger.
?Why don?t you sit over here,? John said as he directed her to a large rock. Mary sat down and looked up into his face. He looked down at his feet for a moment before meeting her eyes, those beautiful blue eyes.
?Mary, I don?t know where to start, but there is a lot I want to say. I hope you will hear me out. First, I want to apologize for how I treated you when you came to visit me in Chicago.? Mary winced as she recalled the trip.
?I wasn?t thinking clearly then, but I am now. I need to know if? if perhaps? you still care for me?maybe?even still?love me.?
John paused for a moment to let Mary think about what he had said. When she didn?t respond, he continued. ?I know it?s been some time since we last saw one another, but I still love you. I wasn?t sure if you could ever forgive me, so I stayed in Chicago. But a few weeks ago, I decided to leave my job and come home to Walnut Grove. I had to know if you still loved me. I had to find out if I still had a chance at a life with you.?
Mary didn?t know what to say. She hadn?t expected this. The apology yes, but not John?s declaration of love. She thought about that night in Chicago. The night she found out that John had been seeing another girl. They were at a ball. John danced with Mary, but he was distant. She thought Chicago was changing him. He wasn?t the young man she was engaged to any longer. As she remembered the pain of that night, Mary found the courage to speak.
?John, you took what was supposed to be a wonderful reunion and ruined it. I vowed that I would never love anyone again?because it hurt too much. Of course, I have loved since then. Time took away the pain, and I only really think about it when Laura mentions our being engaged, which she does every once in while. She?s always looking for advice on boys lately.?
?Mary, I know how much I hurt you. But you have to believe me when I say I realized my mistake right away. I broke it off with that girl later that night and I?ve been faithful to you ever since.?
?Why did you wait so long to come tell me??
?I told you, I didn?t think you could forgive me.?
?But now you think there is a chance??
?I don?t know if there?s a chance, but I had to find out. I couldn?t wait any longer.?
?Maybe you should have. I haven?t been very well lately.?
?I know. Grace told me what the doctor said. It doesn?t change anything for me.?
?But it could change things for me. John, I might be?? she could barely bring herself to say the word. ?I could be blind. I know my eyes are getting worse. The doctor gave me these new glasses a week ago and now they?re as bad as my old ones. Last night when you were outside talking to Pa, I could hardly see the two of you.?
?Mary sighted or blind, I love you. You have to believe that.?
?John it isn?t that simple. We can?t just pick up where we left off. I?m not the same person and neither are you. Besides, I?m seeing someone else right now.?
?Are you talking about Seth??
?How do you know about Seth??
?Grace told me.?
?Seth and I are very close.?
?Has he asked you to marry him??
?No.?
?Would you marry him??
?I don?t know,? Mary answered with tenderness in her voice.
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Part 3
Charles had put in half a day?s work at the mill and then began to walk the dusty road home. Mr. Hanson had told him the mill was going to close after this last order was complete. He paid Charles his final wages and wished him well. Hard times had fallen on the little town of Walnut Grove. Many of the townspeople talked of moving on. Charles couldn?t believe what was happening to the place his family called home for so many years.
But the financial hardship befalling Walnut Grove was the lowest item on his growing list of concerns. Mary?s eyesight worsened. The family expected the doctor?s horrible prediction to come true at any time. And the return of John Jr. came with more unexpected problems. The weight on Charles? shoulders was overpowering. What would they do if Mary went blind? Could he ever trust John Jr. to take care of Mary after what happened in Chicago? And, with things so uncertain, would he need to leave his family to go miles away to find work?
When Charles reached home he saw Mary and John by the creek. He decided not to interrupt them and made his way into the house. He found Caroline making dinner. She greeted him as he washed up.
?You?re just in time Charles. I?m about ready to put dinner on the table.?
?Good, I?m starving.? He paused to dry off his hands. ?We finished the last order at the mill today. I?m not sure when it will open again.?
?Are you going away to find work??
?I don?t know yet. I don?t want to leave when we?re so unsure about Mary?but I might not have any choice.?
Caroline nodded and gave him a small smile. ?Why don?t you sit down and eat while it?s hot.?
Charles sat down at the head of the table. ?When did John Jr. get here??
?Right after the girls left for school.?
?And they?ve been talking all this time??
?Yes. I was going to call Mary in for dinner, but I didn?t want to interrupt them.?
?I wonder if that?s a good sign or a bad one.?
?Well I guess it would depend upon how you want it to end up,? Caroline quipped.
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?Mary, I know my return has been a shock to you. And I know that it has come at perhaps the worst possible time, but I hope you will at least think about what I have said.?
?I will John, but I need time to figure out this nonsense with my eyes.?
?I?m not going anywhere. Take all the time you need.?
?I should go back to the house and see if Ma needs some help. It?s past dinner time and I saw Pa go by a few minutes ago.?
?Can I walk you to the door??
?Sure.?
Mary and John said their goodbyes at the front door and then Mary went inside. She greeted her parents but did not mention John?s name. She wasn?t ready to talk to them yet.
?You must be hungry,? Ma said. ?Can I get you some dinner??
?I can get it myself,? Mary responded in an almost defiant tone.
?I know you can, but I thought you might be tired.?
?Well I?m not, and I would appreciate it if you would stop treating me like I?m helpless!?
?Mary,? Pa interjected in a harsh tone. ?Don?t talk to your mother that way.?
Mary?s mood soften and she broke into tears. She ran to her mother and hugged her. ?I?m sorry Ma. It?s just all this nonsense with my eyes and now John Jr.?
?Don?t worry about it dear; I understand.? Caroline wiped a tear from Mary?s face.
?Why don?t you wash up and I?ll get you a plate if you like.?
?Thanks Ma.?
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Laura and Carrie walked home after school. When they entered the house, Mary was sitting in Ma?s rocking chair. Usually when she sat there Mary would sew, but her eyes couldn?t focus on such fine work these days.
?Hi Mary. Hi Ma.? Laura gave her mother a kiss and then knelt beside the rocking chair.
?Mary, it?s such a nice day, after I finish my chores I thought we could take a walk to the lake.?
?No thanks.? Laura looked over at Ma.
?I could do some fishing and you could bring a book if you like.?
?I don?t feel much like reading right now Laura. Besides, that magnifying lens is too heavy to carry all the way to the lake. It might rip my pocket.?
?Are you sure? You could just put your feet in the water for a while.?
?I don?t want to go to the lake! Now leave me alone Laura!? Mary got off the rocking chair and climbed up the ladder to the loft.
Ma walked over to Laura. ?Thank you for trying to help Laura. I?m sorry that Mary yelled at you that way. She?s just upset right now.?
?I know. I wish I could do something. I feel so sorry for her.?
?Laura, she doesn?t need your pity. She needs your prayers. When she loses her sight, she?ll need all the strength that God and our love can give her. Now why don?t you get started on those chores. And thank you for doing your share and Mary?s too. It?s been a big help to your Pa and me.?
?Can I still go out to the lake for a while??
?As long as you catch us a few good fish for supper.?
?I will Ma.?
Laura left the house and walked out to the barn to start her chores. As she worked, she thought about Mary. For years she had been so jealous of her. Mary was always prettier and smarter than her. She had an easier time making friends too, especially boyfriends. Seth came to mind. He hadn?t been out to see Mary in quite a while. She didn?t even know if he had heard about Mary?s latest visit to the doctor. If he loved Mary so much, where was he?
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Charles and Caroline sat in bed. Charles smoked his pipe and read the newspaper while Caroline tried to find a Bible passage to help her worried heart. ?Did she say anything to you?? Charles asked his wife.
?No? it worries me. I thought she would at least have come to me to talk about it.?
?Well, maybe she?s already made her decision.?
?Maybe, but it?s not like her to be so secretive. I?m worried about her. The way she spoke to me today and then to Laura? She?s shutting us out. I don?t like it.?
?It?s understandable I suppose.?
?She?s trying to deny what?s happening to her. She talks about this ?nonsense? with her eyes, like she?s going to be just fine tomorrow. What are we going to do Charles??
?The same thing we have been doing?pray.?
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John Jr. wrote some thoughts down in his journal. The light from the oil lamp grew dim. He thought about his talk with Mary as he stretched out on the bed. Their walk by the creek today reminded him of all the walks they took before he went away to Chicago. Sometimes they talked about their future, other times he recited poetry to her, and then there were the quiet times where they just enjoyed one another?s company. He missed that. He didn?t realize how much until today.
He blew out the lamp and laid down in the darkness. He folded his arms behind his head and looked up at the ceiling, but couldn?t see anything yet. John wondered if Mary?s doctor was right. Would those beautiful blue eyes wake up one morning to a sea of darkness that surrounded her, choked her, and left her gasping for breath? He felt that his fate somehow rested on the answer to that single question.
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Part 4
The next morning, most of the Ingalls family sat down to breakfast. Pa sipped his coffee while Laura and Carrie poked at their hotcakes. Ma walked to the kitchen to put another pot of coffee on the stove.
?Pa! Pa!? Mary screamed from the loft. Charles knocked over his chair as he raced up the ladder.
?Help me Pa! I can?t see! I?can?t?see!? Charles hugged his daughter tight as he held back tears.
Mary continued to cry, afraid of the darkness around her. ?I?m afraid Pa! I?I can?t breath! Help me Pa!? Charles rocked her back as forth as he whispered in her ear that he was right there. He squeezed her harder. The tears now flowing down his cheeks.
Downstairs, Ma grabbed Laura?s hand as they both fought off their tears. Carrie?s eyes focused on the loft, frightened by the screams of her oldest sister. The nightmare had begun.
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
John heard the sounds of Grace in the kitchen. He had slept later than he wanted to. After throwing on his shirt and pants, he walked into the kitchen.
?Good morning John,? Grace said with a smile.
?Morning Ma. Is Pa around??
?He?s in the barn I expect.?
?Thanks.? John gave Grace a peck on the cheek before going outside. He found Alicia feeding the chickens.
?Hey Alicia, would you like to take a walk to the lake after breakfast??
?Well, I promised Ma that I would help her with the mendin, but I?ll see if she?ll let me go.?
?Is Pa in the barn??
?Yes. He?s doin the milkin and Carl?s tendin the horses.?
?Pa,? John said as he walked into the barn. ?I would have milked the cow.?
?Now don?t go talkin to me like I?m an old man. I can still milk a cow if my son sleeps the mornin away,? Isaiah teased.
?I?m sorry. I meant to get up sooner.?
?What fur? Me and Carl are used to doin it by ourselves.?
?Well if I can?t help with chores, at least let me pay you room and board.?
?Nonsense, you?re my boy. You ain?t gotta pay to live here.?
?I?m a man now Pa. I paid my way in Chicago and I?ll pay my way here.?
?Suit yurself. You work it out with Grace. I?m goin to git me some breakfast. You bout done Carl??
?Yeah Pa. I?ll be right in.?
?Say Carl,? John began. ?Once chores are done, would you like to join Alicia and me at the lake??
?Sure. Maybe I?ll catch us some supper.?
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
The Edwards? children wasted away the afternoon. They played and laughed along the shores of the lake like they did when they were little. As they sat down to their picnic lunch of leftover fried chicken and corn bread, the conversation took a serious turn.
?John??
?Yes, Carl.?
?Where were you yesterday??
?At the Ingalls place.?
?Did you see Mary?? Alicia asked.
?Yes.?
Carl and Alicia looked at one another and then back at John. ?Why?? they asked in unison.
?Because I need to know if she still cares for me.?
?But I thought Seth was her beau now,? Alicia responded, confused.
?He is, but that doesn?t mean she can?t have feelings for me too.?
?Is that why you came home?? Carl asked with a disappointed look on his face.
John smiled at his younger brother. ?Mainly. I couldn?t wait to see you two and Ma and Pa of course, but I wouldn?t have left Chicago if it weren?t for Mary.?
Alicia was even more confused. ?You left Chicago, your job and everythin, without knowin if Mary loves you??
?Yes.?
?What if she says no? What will you do then?? Carl asked.
?I?m not really sure.?
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
?I?ll be back in a couple of days to check on her,? Doc Baker said as he opened the door. He tipped his hat at Caroline.
?Thank you Doctor Baker,? said Caroline as she shut the door behind him.
Charles came in from the barn a few minutes later. ?What did he say?? Charles asked his wife.
?He gave Mary a sedative so she could sleep. He suggested moving her downstairs for a while, until she gets used to things. He?ll be back in a couple of days.?
?I?ll bring the bed down from the soddy and set it up here in the kitchen. Has she said anything since I left? ?
?No,? said Caroline. She answered Doctor Baker?s questions, but nothing else. He said she would sleep for a few hours.?
?I?ll go get that bed.? Charles headed towards the door with his head hung low.
?Charles?? Caroline called after him. ?I need a few things from the mercantile. Were you planning a trip into town today??
?I didn?t see much use with the mill closed.?
?Never mind, I?ll ask Laura then. She can bring the eggs in to Mrs. Oleson to trade for what I need.?
?Sure,? Charles nodded and made his way to the sod house.
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Laura walked slowly towards town. She didn?t want to face Mrs. Olseon today. Laura knew the woman would ask about ?poor Mary? and she wasn?t sure she could control her own tongue right now. ?That old busybody,? she said to herself.
As Laura got to the bridge by the post office, she stopped. John Jr. was heading into the mercantile and Seth was coming her way.
?Hello Laura,? Seth said when he saw her.
?Hi Seth. I haven?t seen you around much lately,? her voice full of hidden accusations.
?My Pa and me were in Sleepy Eye setting up a new livery. It took longer than expected.?
?Have you been by to see Mary yet??
?No. I?m going to head out there this afternoon.?
?Seth, there?s ?a?something you need to know.?
?What?? Seth asked, puzzled by Laura?s hesitation.
?Well?a?she?s been having a lot of trouble with her eyes lately.?
?Didn?t she go to the doctor? She was supposed to go right before I left.?
?Yes she did?but?it didn?t go too good.?
?I?m sure once she?s done studying for her teacher?s exam her eyes will be fine.?
?She?s not fine Seth!? Laura yelled back. ?And you would know that if you were here!? Laura didn?t care that she was screaming in the middle of the street. Overcome with grief and anger she had to strike out at someone, anyone.
Seth was surprised by Laura?s reaction. ?Calm down Laura. I couldn?t help it.?
?Calm down. Calm down. My sister is blind and you want me to calm down!? As soon as the words tumbled out of her mouth, she wished she could take them back.
?Mary is?is b-l-i-n-d?? Seth said in disbelief.
They stood in silence. Laura was afraid to open her mouth again; afraid of what might come out next.
?I?ve got to go Laura.? Seth ran towards his place with Laura calling after him.
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John Jr. had heard the commotion outside. After buying a couple of writing tablets from Mrs. Oleson, he headed out to see what was going on. He found a flustered Laura walking over the bridge towards him.
?Laura,? he called as he walked over to her. ?Is something wrong? I heard yelling.?
?Oh John,? Laura cried.
John put his hands on her shoulders. ?What is it Laura? Is it Mary??
Laura nodded. ?Mary woke up this morning?and she couldn?t see.? Laura tried to calm herself.
?How is she?? John asked with concern.
?I don?t know,? Laura answered trying to slow her breathing. She wiped the tears from her face. ?She won?t talk to anybody. She just sits in bed, staring right out in front of her.?
?I have to go see her.?
?Doctor Baker gave her some medicine. She?s going to be asleep for a while. Maybe you could come by later.?
?I?ll stop off at home and tell them what happened. Then I?ll head out to your place.?
?I?ll let Ma and Pa know you?re coming.?
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